German foreign minister will seek direct talks with Iran

originally posted by: Ohanka
Good job on Germany for seeking to negotiate instead of murdering Iranian officers responsible for the destruction of the Islamic State.

Guess Merkel has to do something right occasionally. Broken clock is right twice a day afterall.

Yeah, good job negotiating with a regime that tortured protestors involved with those recent protests. Your "ISIS destroying" hero had a direct hand in that.

originally posted by: Freeborn
a reply to: ufoorbhunter


The US's role on the world stage is a complicated issue and deserves a thread all of its own.
So does the appalling attitude of many European member states of NATO and their lack of appreciation for the US.

I see little benefit now.

The Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact is gone. Our continual hostility and encroachment on Russia is entirely our making.

In addition I fail to see how we benefit from a continuation of this Alliance. All it seems to achieve is we being dragged into America's idiotic futile wars and occupations.

Here in the UK Islamic extremism is quite the issue. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for several attacks that have killed dozens if not hundreds of citizens. Their propaganda radicalises young muslims who then go off to fight for IS, Al-Qaeda or another affiliated group in Syria, Iraq, Libya and other warzones.

Iran was at the forefront of fighting this particular brand of Islamic Extremism. Now Trump has seen fit to attack this nation, which will undoubtedly only strengthen our enemies.

I don't think it would be in our interests to invade a country that has done more to combat our enemies than America ever has, nor should we maintain an alliance with a country that apparently seeks to strengthen our enemies.

Indeed I cannot think of a single Iranian-sponsored terror attack in the UK. The list of Saudi-sponsored terror attacks, a chief Ally of the US however, is quite long.

I think it would be most beneficial for us to forge our own foreign policy. Free from the shackles a US partnership imposes on us and additionally outside of Europe's asinine unified foreign & security policy.

Perhaps if the US had a less warmongering and Imperialistic foreign policy, alas that would be bad for the military-industrial oligarchy that rules their country.

a reply to: Wardaddy454

This has # all to with NATO.

Last time I looked I'm sure Iran/Iraq is about 5000miles away from the North Atlantic.

originally posted by: Freeborn
a reply to: Wardaddy454

This has # all to with NATO.

Last time I looked I'm sure Iran/Iraq is about 5000miles away from the North Atlantic.

No # Sherlock, I'm just making a point about alliances.

a reply to: Ohanka

I like NATO.

And I think the world would be a far worse place if it wasn't for the role the US has undertaken on the world stage.

Sure they've made mistakes - and seem not to learn from them and are intent on repeating them - it sort of goes with the territory.

Discussing these things at length will only derail this thread.....and no-one yet has given one good, valid reason why diplomatic efforts to seek a peaceful solution shouldn't be encouraged?

Its bordering on the disturbing to see so many Americans pulling themselves stupid over the thought of going to war with Iran and then we have those who would love to literally lend them a hand.......

originally posted by: Pluginn
I guess US propaganda is even better then Nazi Germany ever was, Nazi germany was only for a couple of years...

Well, US propaganda must really be good if you're telling us that the Nazi reign of terror was only for 2 years. I learned (in Canada by the way) that the Nazis existed for about 25 years.

a reply to: Spacespider

Germany is not on board with American politics ever since G.W.Bush.
Cowboy diplomacy "shoot first ask later" is not popular, many Europeans see the US as terrorist state.


You don't bring democracy and freedom, you bring chaos and death. Look at Syria for example: you came, you failed you ran away.
And yes Nazis blah blah... 80 years ago you had one good thing you did and ever since it's one #show after the other.

originally posted by: LogicalGraphitti

originally posted by: Pluginn
I guess US propaganda is even better then Nazi Germany ever was, Nazi germany was only for a couple of years...

Well, US propaganda must really be good if you're telling us that the Nazi reign of terror was only for 2 years. I learned (in Canada by the way) that the Nazis existed for about 25 years.

Well Germany was pretty good with most Nazi years, perhaps really great even but they had big debts with france and England and after Germany attacked Poland Britain and France declared war on Germany and hell broke loose..

6 years of war I meant '39-'45(I just called it a couple of years in a way of saying), still pretty short, when you compare that for example the wars after 9-11... especially with all those wars the US was in after&started and still are after ww2.

Germany can’t do sheet

If germany involves themselves they’ll be going up in smoke from a wave of terror attacks, better for them to be nice to the religion of peace

a reply to: Freeborn

And what point would that be?

That 'we' must follow the US blindly into all of its military interventions regardless of its justness or domestic opinion?

originally posted by: FreebornDiscussing these things at length will only derail this thread.....and no-one yet has given one good, valid reason why diplomatic efforts to seek a peaceful solution shouldn't be encouraged?

No one wants to go to war with anyone, but I'll answer your first question - The leaders in Iran do not care about negotiations or peace. They have been funding and directing terrorism for decades. That type of people has no interest in diplomacy, only killing those who don't believe the way they do. They only understand sanctions and violence because they are still stuck in the middle ages. The younger people in Iran have typically wanted their freedom for years and 1500 or so died recently because they were protesting this regime.

a reply to: HalWesten


Politics is war by other means.

War is politics by other means.

The Germans have been circumventing the US sanctions on doing business with Iran. Trump is threatening to really shut things down, and German petrochemicals firms (BASF) are not sitting still for that. So Germany is sending a special envoy to ensure that Iran honors its contracts with "German" trans-nationals.

originally posted by: Xcalibur254
Trump has been bashing Germany (not to mention our other close allies.) Are you actually surprised that they're not anxious to go to war?

Bush deserves a lot of criticism but he was good at convincing other countries to sacrifice their youth.

Remember his 1st meeting as pres with Merkel..he refused to shake her hand

Sets the tone!

originally posted by: Graysen
a reply to: HalWesten


Politics is war by other means.

War is politics by other means.

The Germans have been circumventing the US sanctions on doing business with Iran. Trump is threatening to really shut things down, and German petrochemicals firms (BASF) are not sitting still for that. So Germany is sending a special envoy to ensure that Iran honors its contracts with "German" trans-nationals.

That is true, good point. And yes, I agree that's probably what they're doing.

I wonder how much Euros the German government and Merkel will deliver to them....

a reply to: Homefree

Nice to see someone actually attempting diplomacy. Cheers to Germany.

He should rather propose accepting all the Iranian refugees. I'm sure Germany still has a lot of money after robbing whole Europe few decades ago.

a reply to: Spacespider

No, Germany has some sense, unlike the US.

But you neocons love war don't you?

a reply to: Willtell

Germany has been trading with Iran in violation of its own agreement to Obama's appeasement treaty.


you commie libs love sending ransom money to violent middle eastern cult leaders who would rather just kill you anyways.

a reply to: Graysen

And you like to send your youth to get slaughtered, so shut up about having the morale higher point.